Safety motor-car guard.



H. E. KEFFER.

SAFETY MOTOR CAR GUARD. APPLICATION man AUG.8,1914.

. 2 @Q9 l @imm Aug, 179 mi).

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

llllIl-ll H. E. KEFFER4 SAFETY MOTOR CAR GUARD APPLICATION mm AUG.8.1914.

PaQutedAug. i915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

H. E. KEFFER.

SAFETY MOTOR CAR GUARD.

APPLICAHON FILED AUG.8. m14.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5] vw@ who@ latentedAug. 17, 1915.

HILLARY E. KEFFER, or BROOKLYN, NEW Your..l

SAFETY Moron-can GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. it, 1915.

Application led August 8, 1914. Serial No. 855,746.

. is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which` it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to safety guards or fenders for automobiles, tramway cars, and other power driven vehicles 'and the object thereof is to provide an improved guard or fender of the class specified which will oper-- ate to prevent the serious and sometimes fatal accidents resulting from the striking of a person by vehicles of this class when in motion; and which will prevent the person struck from passing under the vehicle or under the wheels thereof, and with this and other objects in view the invention consists of a fender or guard for vehicles ofthe class specified constructed and operating as hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are 'designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Figure 1v is a sectional side view of the front part of an automobile provided with my improved fender or guard in position to be operated, the section being on line 1 1 Fig. 3; Fig. 2, a view similarto Fig. 1, but showing the fender or guard in the position it assumes when operated; Fig. 3, a horizontal sectional view on the lines 3 3, of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a horizontal sectional view on the line 4 1 of Fig. 2;- Fig. 5, a front view of the construction as shown in Fig. 1 and looking inthe direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing only parts of the operative mechanism and showing means for throwing the fender or guard into the position shown in Fig. 2, said means being operated by compressed air from the air brake system with which the vehicle is provided; Fig. 7, a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1 and on an enlarged scale; and, Fig. 8 a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing electrical means for throwing the parts of the fender or guard into the position shown in Fig. 2.

In the drawing forming part of this specication I have shown at a the front part of 'the body of an automobile having a front axle a2 provided withA front wheels a3, and at a4 I have shown the usual side springs which are mounted on the front aXle, and secured to the body a., and said springs' are of the usual elliptical. type.

In the practice of my invention I mount in the front ends of theY springs a.'L a transverse shaft .7) the ends of which project to the plane of the wheels a3, and mounted on said shaft outside of the springs a, are fourway couplings b2, which are free to rotate on said shaft, and the ends b3 of said shaft project from said couplings. I also provide vertically arranged and curved side arms o having vertical lower end parts c2, and backwardly curved top end portions 03 which pass into housings c* secured to the front end of the bodyof the vehicle, and on which are mounted springs c5 which hold said arms in said housings, and the lower end portions c2 of the arms c are composed of separate parts which are connected with the four-way couplings b2.

The operative parts of my improved fender or guard consist of a front apron buffer or guard d and a bottom and approximately horizontal tray guard e. The tray guard e is mounted on the front cross head of a yoke-shaped frame e2 having upwardly and backwardly directed side' arms es, and secured to the elbow portions of the arms e3 are keepers c4 to which the bottom end parts c2 of the arms c are pivoted, as shown at e5.

The tray guard e comprises an approximately rectangular frame having a body portion e of wire mesh or similar material and pivoted in the ends thereof and nearer ,the Vrear side thereof than the front side are L-shaped link members e7 which are also pivoted to sleeves es lslidably mounted on the horizontal portions of the sides of the yoke-shaped frame e2. The tray guard e is rotatably mounted on the cross head portion es of the yoke-shaped frame c2, and the front portion of said tray guard is much heavier than the rear portion thereof, and by reason of this fact said tray guard normally assumes the downward and forward inclination shown in Fig. 1 when the'parts are in condition for use.

Slidably mounted on the arms c above the shaft b are sleeves f, which are connected by a transverse rod f2, and this rod f2 forms a part of the frame of the apron buer or Sii guard al', the rest of which consists of a yoke-shaped frame Z2 comprising a front cross head portion (Z3, and side arms (lJL the ends of which are pivoted or hinged to the sleeves f at f3 and the frame of the apron guard r] is provided with a wire mesh body (Z5, and secured to the side members alt of the frame of the apron guard d are collars ci to which are pivoted link members d? which are also pivoted to the keepers et, and pivoted to the sleeves f are" other link members ZS which are also pivoted to the ends of the upwardly directed side arms e3 ot the yoke-shaped frame e2. My improved fender or guard also comprises side wings Vg which consist of triangular frames hinged to the side members (Z4 of the yoke-shaped frame d2 of the apron guard al by means of double keepers g2 or in any other suitable way. The wider ends of the side wings g are directed outwardly and the lframes thereof are provided with wire mesh bodies g3, and said trames are provided with braces g4 which are secured to the inner sides thereof at g5 and to the outer sides thereof at g, and are diagonally arranged as shown and said braces are passed through keepers g7 pivoted to the ends 3 of the shaft b and through which they are freely moved.

The normal and operative position of the parts of my improved fender or guard is that shown in Figs. l, 2 and 5, in which the wings g extend outwardly and backwardly in front of the wheels a3, and if a person be struck by the vehicle when in motion, the apron guard l would receive the impact of the blow, and all the parts of the fender or guard would be thrown in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which position the apron guard d, which normally projects downwardly and forwardly, would be thrown backwardly and into an upright position, while the tray guard e would be projected and depressed and the person struck would be caught thereon, and the passing of such person under the vehicle would be prevented. It will also be observed that when the fender or guard is set for use as shown in Figs. 1,3 and 5 the wings g will prevent a person from being struck by either of the wheels a3, and prevent such person from passing under said wheels even though he may not be struck by the main central part or parts of the fender or guard.

It will also be seen that in the above de-v scribed operation, the entirefender or guard is tilted ,forward slightly on the shaft and thearms c are partly withdrawn from the housings et, as clearly shown in Fig. Q, but when the weight of the person struck is removed from the tray guard e the various parts of the apparatus will automatically be returned to the position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 and the fender or guard will be again in position for use. It will also be observed VJfrom the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that in the operation of the fender or guard as described, the tray guard c rotates between the sides of the yoke-shaped frame c2, and the apron guard (Z swings thereover, in both its backward and forward niovement, and said apron guard (l, when in the position shown in Fig. Q, holds the tray guard c in its fiat or horizontal position. It will also be seen that thel link members (ZT and (ZS form opposite side parts of parallelogram frames, the other side portions of which consist of upwardly directed side arms c of the yoke-shaped frame c2. and the upper end portion of the sides d* ot' the yokeshaped frame (Z2 oi" the apron guard (Z. and these parallelogram frames, operate as togglc levers to insure the operation of the parts ot' the fender or guard as herein shown and described.

ln Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown means under the control ot the operator ot the vehicle for throwing the parts of the fender or guard into the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4, said means consisting of vertically arranged cylinders /t pivotally connected with the keepers c* at 7a2, and also connected with the side bars h3 of the truck frame to which they are pivoted at e, said side bars 7b3 of the truck trame projecting in the usual manner. lVith this construction I substitute for the arms c other arms z' which are secured to the front otl the vehicle by means of housings, not shown, but similar to those shown at c4 in Fig. l, and the arms z' are forked to form side members E between which the tops ot the cylinders z. are pivoted at 3. In this form of construction the parallelogram frame members (Z4 and (Z8 are pivoted to head blocks jj which take thc place otl the sleeves f and which are provided with piston rods which pass downwardly into the cylinders 'z. and are provided with pistons js, and connected with the tops of the cylinders zy are emergency brake air pipes L which are connected with the emergency air brake apparatus carried by the vehicle, and the connection of the pipes 71,5 with the cylinders L are made by means of valve casings 71, having valves IL? provided with arms LS with which are connected rods 71,0 which are also connected with the heads j. The valves are provided with ports h1", and the valve casings It with corresponding ports, and the pipes r" are provided within the valve casings with ports 71.11.. The bottoms of the cylinders L are also provided with air brake pipes 7c which are connected with the air brake system or apparatus carried by the vehicle and by means of this construction the pistons will normally be held in the balanced position shown in Fig. 6 when the fender or guard is in the operative position intensa shown in Fig. 1. lVith the parts of this construction in the position shown in Fig. 6 if a person should be struck by the vehicle when in motion, the parts of the fender or guard would be thrown in the position shown in Fig. 2, andin this operation the pistons j would be moved upwardly and the valves it? would be opened and the air from the brahe system would be exhausted and the brakes would be applied and the vehicle would be brought to a stop.

lf the operator of the vehicle, when the parts of the fender or guard are in the position shown in Fig. 1 should see or observe a person about to bestruck by the vehicle he may operate his emergency brake in the usual manner and this operation would exhaust the air in the pipes ki in the usual manner, together with the air in the top portions of the cylinders it, and the fender or guard, orwthe parts thereof would be thrown in the position shown in Fig. 2 by the pressure of air from the brake system carried by the air entering the bottom portions of the cylinders l1, through the pipes f.

ln Fig. 8 I have shown electrical means under the control of the operator of the vehicle or car for throwing the parts of the fender or guard into the position shown in Fig. Q, said means consisting of the arms c employed in Figs. 1 and 2, but the lower end portions of which are connected with the side bars m2 of the vehicle truck frame bymeans of sleeves m mounted on said arms and which are pivoted to said side bars, said side bars projecting in the usual manner and in connection with the arms c l provide tubular sleeves n which are mounted thereon and on which are placed electro-magnets n? which are movable vertically on said sleeves, and the sleeves n form the cores of the magnets n?, and the parts d* and Z8 of the parallelogram side frames are connected with the magnets a2.

The magnets n2 are provided with circuit wires n3 and n? and in the circuit thus formed is placed a battery 11,5 and the said wires n3 and n4 are provided with contact posts or parts n and ni, arranged adjacent to the ordinary emergency brake lever 0 and in the operation of applying the emergency brakes on the car or vehicle the levers 0 will complete the circuit through the Wires n and n* and the magnets n2 will be raised or moved in the direction of the arrow a", and the parts of the fender or guard will be thrown into the position shown in Fig. 2. The magnets n2 in connection with the core n form an ordinary solenoid the operation of which will be as herein described and after the parts of the fender or guard have been thrown in the position shown in Fig. 2,

Vthey will be`returned automatically to the operative position shown in Fig. l when the circuit through the wires n3 and at is broken. From the foregoing description it will be seen that my improved fender or guard will operate to accomplish the results specified,

when the parts thereof are in the position shown in Figs. l, 3 and 5, or said parts may first be thrown into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which they will operate and prevent a person struck from passing under the vehicle, but a person struck by the fender or guard would be more apt to be injured when the parts are in the position shownin Figs. Q and d than when said parts are in the position shown in Figs. l, 3 and 5 by reason of the fact that when the parts of the fender or guard` are in the posit-ion shown in Figs. 2 and +L. they. would not have the yielding qualities that they have when in the position shown in Figs. 1 3 and 5.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive is the preferred construction. and while l have shown and described different forms of mechanism for throwing the parts of the guard or fender into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, my invention is not limited thereto, nor to any other specific construction or apparatus for accomplishing this result, various forms of which might be provided, and it will also be understood that my. invention is Vnot limited to the details of construction shown in Figs. 1 to inclusive, and changes therein and modifica tions thereof may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or sacrificing its advantages.

1t must be borne in mind that my inventionis not limited to any particular means for or method of connecting my improved fender or guard with motor vehicles or cars, and althouglrl have shown said fender or guard connected with the front side springs of an automobile in Figs. 1 and Q, and with the parts h3 and m2 of a motor car truck frame, or parts connected with such frame in Figs. 6 and 8. the said fender or guard .may be connected with an automobile truck frame. or with a tramway car truck frame, u

or with a power driven vehicle of any kind or class, in any suitable way, or by any pre.- ferred means.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

1. In a fender or guard for Vehicles, a movably suspended apron guard, a supplemental tray guardpivotally supported in a transverse position below said apron guard and a collapsible supporting structure connecting said apron guard and tray guard and also connecting said parts with the vehicle, the apron guard being adapted to swing forwardly and backwardly over the tray guard.

2. In a fender or guard for vehicles, a

movably suspended apron guard, a supplemental trav guard pivotally supported in a transverse position below thevapron guard and a collapsible supporting structure connecting said apron and said tray guards and also connecting said guards with' the vehicle, said structure and said apron and tray guards having a forward and backward rocking movement when collapsed and the apron guard being adapted to swing forwardly and baclm'ardly over the tray guard.

3. In a fender or guard for vehicles, a movably suspended apron guard, a supplemental tray guard pivotally supported in a transverse position below the apron 'guard and a collapsible supporting structure connecting said apron and said tray guards and also connecting said parts with the vehicle, said structure involving parallelogram side nnnibers which operate as toggle lever;

4l. In a fender or guard for vehicles. a movably suspended apron guard, a supplemental tray guard pivotallv supported, in a transverse position below the apron guard and a collapsible supporting structure connecting said apron and said tray guards and also connecting said parts with the vehicle, said structure involving parallelogram side members which operate as toggle levers, said supporting structure and said guards having a forward and backward rocking movement when collapsed and the apron guard also having a forward and backward movement over the tray guard.

5. In a fender or guard for vehicles, a movably suspended apron guard, a supplemental tray guard pivotally supported in a transverse position below the apron guard, and a collapsible supporting structure connecting said guards and also connecting said parts with the vehicle, and means under the control of the operator of the vehicle for collapsing the parts of the fender or guard.

(l. In a fender or guard for vehicles, a movably suspended apron guard, a supplemental tray guard, pivotally supported beneath the apron guard, and a collapsible supporting structure connecting said apron guard and said tray guard and connecting said parts with the vehicle, said collapsible structure involving toggle lever side members and means under the control of the operator of the vehicle for collapsing parts of Said fender or guard.v

7. In a fender or guard for vehicles, a movably suspended apron guard, a supplemental tray guard pivotally supported in a transverse position below the apron guard, and a collapsible supporting structure connecting said apron guard and said tray guard and also connecting said apron guard with the vehicle, said supporting structure and the apron guard and tray guard having a forward and backward rocking movement when collapsed and the apron guard being adapted to swing-forwardly and baclnvardly over the tray guard and means under the control of the operator of the vehicle for collapsing separate parts of the fender or guard.

S. In a fender or guard for vehicles, a movably supported apron guard, and a supplemental tray guard pivotally supported in a transverse position below the apron guard, and means for giving the bottom edge of the apron guard a forward and backward movement-and the top edge thereof a verticall movement and also for giving the tray guard a vertical and tilting movement, the bottom edge of saidapron guard being movable forwardly and backwardly over the tray guard.

9. Ina fender kor guard for vehicles, a tray guard movably supported in-a horizontal and downwardly and forwardly inclined position and an apron guard movably supported in an upright position above the tray guard, said apron guard being adapted to move forwardly and backwardly over the tray guard, and said tray guard having a vertical and tilting movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of the subscribing witnesses this 7th day of October 1914.

IIILLARY E. KIFFER. lVitnesses:

C. MULREANY, H. E. TiroMrsoN. 

